A new biographical film, The Woman Behind the Man, stars veteran actor Li Xuejian and actress Tao Huimin in the main roles.[Photo provided to China Daily]

When she joined the school, it had three teachers and 50 children.

Despite her family responsibilities at the time, Gong－whose two children were then 7 months and 2 years old－spent most of her day at the school.

As for their finances, Lei says: "Gong then earned 80 yuan per month, and Gan's monthly salary was 330 yuan－a huge amount which could ensure a good life in the 1950s. But Gong kept just 10 yuan from her salary for the family's use and let her husband use his earnings and the rest of her salary to support the villagers."

Speaking about how he felt while making the film, Lei says: "I was worried that the plot was not intriguing enough. But what they (the couple) achieved is something that people like us cannot do. It's a touching tale about two soulmates."

As for how the film fares at the box office, Lei says he feels sorry that the movie－hemmed in by commercial offerings in cinemas around the country－will not gain as much screen time as he would have liked.

"It's a continuing dilemma for makers of role model-themed movies. They are not box-office material, but I believe that older audiences－not the main target group for theaters these days－prefer such titles."